Pacific News Headlines: 3rd August 2022
Watch a wrap-up of your week in news from across the Islands, in under a minute.
Samoa wins gold at the Commonwealth Games - the winner hailing from a family of athletes.
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Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
Commonwealth Games 2022 - Pacific Islanders in Action
The Pacific islands have snatched their first 2022 Commonwealth Games GOLD ladies and Gentlemen!
In fact, our Pasifika athletes managed to collect one Gold and two Bronze medals in Weightlifting for three of our island nations early this morning.
Samoa have won their first Gold with 23yr old Don Opeloge smashing the Commonwealth Games record in the Mens 96kg Weightlifting final. He strolled in and snatched 171kg and clean & jerked 210kg giving him an aggregate score of 381kg (also a Comm Games record). Fijian Taniela Rainibogi picked up Bronze in the same event.
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Earlier in the evening Maximina Uepa picked up a Bronze medal for Nauru - one of the smallest Pacific island nations competing at the Commonwealth Games! How good?!
Maximina competed in the 76kg division lifting 96kg in the Snatch and 119kg in the Clean & Jerk.
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Take a look at how our Pacific Islands teams are tracking and who we should look out for over the next few days at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
NB all times indicated below are in NZT.…more
Pacific Music Awards 2022 - Meet the first time finalists
The biggest celebration of Pacific Music in New Zealand returns with crowds again for the live Pacific Music Awards event on Thursday 4th of August.
There are 26 finalists in total with a mix of new musicians debuting music, established music artists, Pacific industry icons and everything in between.
This year iconic Samoan singer-songwriter Fa'anana Jerome Grey will be honoured with the Pacific Music Awards Lifetime Achievement award and there will be a new Creative New Zealand award - the recipient will be announced on the night.…more
Support to Samoa’s Climate Change Plan and rebuild of Savalalo Market
Prime Minister Ardern met with members of Samoa’s Cabinet in Apia, today, announcing the launch of a new climate change partnership and confirming support for the rebuild of the capital’s main market, on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Aotearoa New Zealand and Samoa.
“I am pleased to reaffirm our commitment to Samoa — and the priorities of the Government of Samoa — as we mark this milestone in our countries’ shared history,” said Jacinda Ardern.
“Through the Samoa–Aotearoa New Zealand Climate Partnership, we are committing NZ$15 million in flexible finance to support the delivery of Samoa’s climate change priorities. This funding will help build Samoa’s resilience to the impacts of climate change and its transition to a low emissions economy. We will work with the Government of Samoa to determine governance arrangements, and opportunities for future investments.
At the request of Samoa, Aotearoa New Zealand will also provide NZ$12 million toward the rebuilding of the historic Savalalo Market, which was destroyed by fire in 2016.…more
Speech: 60th Anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship between Aotearoa New Zealand and Samoa- “Lifelong Friends – Uō Mamae"
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Adern gave an impassioned speech to Samoa to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between the two countries. She is leading the first international delegation in Samoa since Covid hit the world.
The group has a representative from every party in parliament - including Christopher Luxon, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni, and Minister of Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. The Prime Minister acknowledged the trauma of NZs colonial governance of Samoa in history, but looked to an exciting future between the two nations.…more
Commonwealth Games Weekend Wrap - Pacific Islands
The 22nd Commonwelath Games kicked off in Birmingham, UK on the 28th of July with the opening ceremony held at the Alexander Stadium. 11 of our Pacific Islands nations are competing - Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu & Vanuatu.
The theme of the games is 'Sport is the beginning of all' and the Pacific Islands nations walked out in alphabetical order together with Australia and New Zealand under the Oceania region.
Swipe through for some of our teams marching in.
We've put together a few of the highlights from the weekends competition as well as a couple of 'Ones to watch' in events that are still to come.
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History makers
Solomon Islands and Tuvalu have teams that have qualified for Beach Volleyball for the very first time at the Commonwealth Games.
Hanna Marasalau & Calorose Sisia (below) are the womens pair who debuted at the games for the Solomons losing to England in their first game but will play fellow Pacific Islanders Vanuatu next and Scotland in their final pool game.…more
Pacific News Headlines: 29th July 2022
Watch a wrap-up of your week in news from across the Islands, in under a minute.
The Manly Sea Eagles pride jersey debacle comes to an end, after players and management reach a compromise.
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Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
Behind the Scenes: Grubbies Burgers Celebration | Keepin It Fresh
Join us as we head to Brisbane and meet the hard-working team behind Grubbies Burgers & Hawaiian BBQ as they celebrate their first anniversary.
Serving up Brisbane’s biggest, baddest burgers and Hawaiian bbq platters, the Pasifika community shows up and out to celebrate their fav spot with an appearance from Goodnas finest - Lisi and friends.
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Keepin It Fresh brings you all the freshness happening in our Moana communities, from Siva Afi Festivals to Pacific Cabarets.
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Credits
Director & Camera Operator - Dave Parker
Sound Operator - James Kennedy
Editor - Tuki Laumea
Thank you Ben Niumata
Coco Sports Talk - Commonwealth Games Edition: Niue Boxing, Tonga Shot Put & Wrestling
Coco Sports Talk with Penina and Ashley - covering all things sports from a Pasifika female lens!
#CocoSportsTalk looks at the many stories of Pasifika people involved in sports of all kinds, and the trials and tribulations of the talented athletes from all sectors of our community.
In this episode we meet a few of the Pasifika athletes who are about to compete in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK.
We meet a couple of the young men in the Niue Boxing Team at their fundraising event in Grey Lynn - Duken Williams and Deniro Pao Clarke plus check out their sparring session with legendary fight coach Lolo Heimuli.
We head over to the Kingdom of Tonga to visit rising Tongan shot put star 'Atamaama Tu'utafaiva and then we're back in Auckland to meet a history making wrestling team.…more
52% of lawyers face racial profiling in workplace, survey finds
by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller
After revered barrister Tiana Epati was mistaken for a criminal defendant at court, the Pacific Lawyers Association surveyed how frequently lawyers are being profiled. Mariner Fagaiava-Muller reports.
Outrage ensued when Epati, the former NZ Law Society president, was taken amiss for a defendant.
There are around 1500 Māori and Pacific court lawyers in Aotearoa, and many of them have met similar encounters with court staff.
Those who witnessed others being profiled could recount up to five such instances.
Within the wider legal workplace environment, 52% of lawyers said they’ve been racially profiled at least once during the last seven years.
That’s according to a survey conducted by the Pacific Lawyers Association, in partnership with Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa.
Out of those who have been subject to racial profiling themselves, only 18% reported it.…more